Police operation to disperse violent protestors
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At around 3pm, some protestors started to block the roads and surround Yuen Long Police Station. At the same time, Police discovered that there were a large number of protestors gathered in Nam Pin Wai, Yuen Long. Some of them used metal poles, self-made shields to attack Police officers and charge police cordon line. They even removed fences from roads to form road blocks. Before 5pm, some people surrounded and vandalised a Police vehicle on Yuen Long On Lok Road, causing danger to the life of the Police officers onboard. The police vehicle later left the scene with the assistance of other police officers during the dispersal operation.
Before conducting the dispersal operation, Police appeal to members of the public gathering in Yuen Long at scene and through social media and issuing press statements, urging them to leave as soon as possible. After repeated but futile warnings, Police took actions to disperse the protestors at around 5pm. During the dispersal, Police appealed to them to leave via a suggested route. Throughout the whole operation, all members of the public were able to leave via the Yuen Long MTR station.
During the dispersal, some protestors hurled bricks, threw glass bottles containing suspected corrosive fluid as well as smoke-producing material at police officers and targeted strong laser beam at them. Therefore, Police had to use appropriate force including tear gases, 40mm react round and rubber bullets to stop the violent acts.
During the operation, Police arrested 11 men, aged between 18 and 68, for offences including unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapon, assaulting police officer and assault.
At least four police officers were injured during the operation.
Police’s provision of emergency service to members of the public has been severely affected. The Report Room service in Yuen Long Police Station has been suspended from around 5.10pm to around 7pm. During the service suspension, there were calls of 999 hotline in Yuen Long district not being able to be handled immediately. Police had to redeploy other resources to follow up.
Police condemn the deliberate attacks by violent protestors and stress that Police will investigate all illegal and violent acts. Police are capable and determined to maintain law and order in society and do not tolerate any violent acts.
Ends/Sunday, July 28, 2019
Issued at HKT 3:06
Issued at HKT 3:06
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